Lionsgate digs ‘Rabbit Hole’ in Toronto

Studio to release Nicole Kidman-starrer in December

Lionsgate on Thursday finalized its deal for North American rights to Nicole Kidman-Aaron Eckhart drama “Rabbit Hole,” which it will open in time for a 2010 awards run. Film will launch in theaters in December.

“Rabbit Hole,” directed by John Cameron Mitchell, is based on David Lindsay-Abaire’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play about a couple who lose their child. Lindsay-Abaire adapted for the bigscreen.

It’s the first film from Kidman and Per Saari’s production shingle Blossom Films.

Sale of the CAA-repped title capped a slew of deals inked on the ground here for a diverse mix of fare, but most of the films bought by U.S. distribs won’t hit theaters until next year.

That sets “Rabbit Hole” apart and means a quick turnaround for Lionsgate, much as Fox Searchlight had to do two years ago with Darren Aronofsky’s “The Wrestler,” which Searchlight bought following the pic’s world preem at the Venice Film Festival.

“It’s one of those films where all the intangibles came together,” Lionsgate prexy of acquisitions and co-productions Jason Constantine told Daily Variety . “In December and January, we didn’t have a film in that part of our release schedule, so it was really an opportunity for us to have a great film, and we are honored to be releasing it.”

Constantine announced the deal with Lionsgate chief operating officer and Motion Picture Group prexy Joe Drake.

It was produced by Olympus Prods.’ Leslie Urdang and Dean Vanech, Odd Lot Entertainment’s Gigi Pritzker, and Kidman and Saari.

Constantine and Lionsgate senior VP of acquisitions and co-productions Eda Kowan and exec VP of business and legal affairs, acquisitions and co-productions Wendy Jaffe negotiated on behalf of Lionsgate. CAA, which reps Mitchell, Kidman, Eckhart and Teller, brokered the pact on behalf of Odd Lot, Blossom Films and Olympus Pictures